LeBron James and his son Bronny made history as they took the court together for the Los Angeles Lakers in their opening game of the NBA season.
They became the first father and son to play together in the NBA – and in the league at the same time – when they came off the bench with four minutes remaining of the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Bronny, 20, who featured alongside his father during pre-season, claimed an offensive rebound on his debut as he played for little more than two and a half minutes with LeBron before returning to the bench.
Ken Griffey Sr and Ken Griffey Jr, who achieved the same feat in baseball for the Seattle Mariners in 1990, were courtside and greeted the history makers before the match.
LeBron, 39, also tied Vince Carter's record as he appeared in his 22nd NBA season.
He scored 16 points, while Anthony Davis contributed 36 and 16 rebounds as the Lakers won 110-103 in coach JJ Redick’s first game in charge.
The victory marks their first season-opening win since 2016.
LeBron told ESPN: "It’s always my family over everything. I’ve missed a lot of his things, so to be able to have this moment alongside my son was among the greatest gifts I’ve had."
Bronny described the moment he came into the game alongside his father as a "crazy moment I will never forget".
LeBron James.
— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2024
Bronny James.
The first father-son duo to play together in the NBA! pic.twitter.com/naadFLoPmh
"It's always been family over everything," LeBron said alongside Bronny after the game.
"I lost a lot of time because of this league ... so to be able to have this moment where I am working still and I can work alongside my son, it's one of the greatest gifts I've ever got from the man above and I'm going to take full advantage of it."
LeBron had long said one of his remaining goals in basketball was to play with his son, a guard who was selected with the 55th pick of the NBA Draft in June after one season at the University of Southern California.
LeBron, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, a four-time champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist, is now in his 22nd NBA season and has yet to say when he plans to call time on his career.
Bronny, meanwhile, is looking to make a name for himself in the league he has grown up around with a father who has also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.
"Going up to the scorer's table and checking in for the first time was a crazy moment I will never forget," Bronny said.
"I'm just extremely grateful for everything. I was given an amazing opportunity to come into this league and get better every day and learn every day."
LeBron said he reminds his eldest son how fortunate they are to play in the NBA.
"This is not promised every day that you get to play in this beautiful league," he said.
"There's only 450 of us and you have to understand it's not given to you, you have to earn every moment. I think he knows that and he looks forward to the process of getting better every single day to be the player he ultimately wants to be.
"I'm super proud of him. He's my lifeline, that's for sure."
Meanwhile, reigning champions the Boston Celtics equalled the NBA record for most three-point baskets in a match as they opened their season with a 132-109 win over the New York Knicks.
The Celtics matched the record of 29, held by the Milwaukee Bucks, with almost nine minutes remaining but missed 13 attempts to set a new mark.
Jayson Tatum made eight three-pointers among his 37 points.
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